IP / IK protection classes

The specification of the degree of protection of an enclosure is determined by the abbreviation IP (Ingress Protection) and a two-digit code number. The first digit has two meanings: Protection for people and equipment. The second digit has only one meaning: protection against water. As a standard, almost all ROLEC enclosures are designed in protection class IP 65 and IP 66 and thus meet a high industrial standard for series products: that is, the enclosure offer protection against the ingress of water and dust. In addition, many of the ROLEC standard enclosures made of aluminum and polyester can be designed with IP 67 and IP 69K degrees of protection on request.

Definition of the 1st IP code

0 = Not protected

Scope of protection: – – – – –

1 = Large foreign bodies

Scope of protection: Protection against accidental large surface contact with live and internal moving parts, e.g. by the hand, although no protection against intentional access to these parts. Protection against the penetration of solid foreign bodies with a diameter greater than 50 mm.

2 = Medium-sized foreign bodies

Scope of protection: Protection against contact between the fingers and live or internal moving parts. Protection against the penetration of solid foreign bodies with a diameter greater than 12 mm.

3 = Small foreign bodies

Scope of protection: Protection against contact between live or internal moving parts and tools, wire, etc. with a thickness of more than 2.5 mm. Protection against the penetration of solid foreign bodies with a diameter greater than 2.5 mm.

4 = Granular foreign bodies

Scope of protection: Protection against contact with live or internal moving parts with tools, wires etc. with a thickness of more than 1 mm.

5 = Dust deposits

Scope of protection: Complete protection against contact with live parts or parts moving internally. Protection against harmful dust deposits. The ingress of dust is not fully prevented but dust shall not penetrate in such quantities as to affect the functionality.

6 = Dust ingress

Scope of protection: Complete protection against contact with live parts or parts moving internally. Protection against the ingress of dust.

Definition of the 2nd IP code

0 = NOT PROTECTED

Scope of protection: - - - - -

1 = PROTECTED AGAINST DROPS

Scope of protection: Vertically falling drops must not have any harmful effects.

2 = PROTECTED AGAINST DROPS IF THE HOUSING IS INCLINED UP TO 15 °

Scope of protection: Drops falling vertically must not have any harmful effects if the housing is inclined at an angle of up to 15 ° on both sides of the vertical.

3 = PROTECTED AGAINST SPRAY WATER

Scope of protection: Water that is sprayed at an angle of up to 60 ° on both sides of the vertical must not have any harmful effects.

4 = PROTECTED AGAINST SPLASHING WATER

Scope of protection: Water that splashes against the housing from any direction must not have any harmful effects.

5 = PROTECTED AGAINST JETS

Scope of protection: Water that is directed as a jet against the housing from any direction must not have any harmful effects.

6 = PROTECTED AGAINST STRONG JETS OF WATER

Scope of protection: Water that is directed as a strong jet against the housing from any direction must not have any harmful effects.

7 = PROTECTED AGAINST THE EFFECTS OF INTERMEDIATE SUBMERGING IN WATER

Scope of protection: Water must not enter in an amount that causes harmful effects if the housing is temporarily submerged in water under standardized pressure and time conditions.

8 = PROTECTED AGAINST THE EFFECTS OF CONTINUOUS SUBMERGING IN WATER

Scope of protection: Water must not enter in an amount that causes harmful effects if the housing is continuously submerged under water under conditions that have to be agreed between the manufacturer and the user. However, the conditions must be more difficult than for code number 7.

9K = WATER FOR HIGH PRESSURE / STEAM JET CLEANING

Scope of protection: Water that is directed against the housing from every direction under greatly increased pressure must not have any harmful effects.

Notice

The degrees of protection specified for the ROLEC enclosures relate to the unprocessed standard enclosures in the delivery state. Particularly in the case of protection against water (second code number), the test conditions are met if no water or water in a non-harmful amount has penetrated within the specified time of the test. Since the tests of the protection class do not take aging into account, the maintenance of the protection class over the service life of the device is not guaranteed. Temperature changes, such as those that can occur in outdoor weather, are also not taken into account. Such temperature changes lead, among other things, to negative pressure in the housing, and under certain circumstances moisture can be sucked in through the sealing areas. ROLEC has pressure compensation elements ready for installation.

IK degrees of protection - degree of impact resistance

The IK degree of protection is a measure of the resistance of enclosures for electrical equipment to mechanical stress, especially when subjected to shock loads. The IK code is internationally standardized according to IEC 62262 (corresponds to EN 62262, previously EN 50102). There are ten degrees of protection, according to the impact energy that the enclosure can withstand.